It’s common nowadays to hear about independent and niche films not getting the desired number of shows in cinemas. Many filmmakers remain apprehensive and hesitant to raise their voices. However, director Kanu Behl decided not to take things lying down.
On Thursday, November 13, Kanu posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that his film **Agra** had been denied shows because of so-called ‘big blockbusters’ dominating the screens and the viewpoint that small films don’t fit into multiplex programming.
On the morning of November 14, the day *Agra* released, Kanu uploaded a screenshot showing the limited number of shows secured by his film in Mumbai. According to the screenshot, *Agra* was playing in just 3 cinemas with a total of 4 shows. Captioning the picture with a sarcastic “slow claps,” Kanu expressed his frustration.
He further stated:
> “We are NOT asking for 1000 screens; we are only asking for 100 good screens. Has the rot set so deep that no one just cares anymore? Is it all about Rs. 1000 crores or Rs. 5000 crores?”
Following his outspoken posts, many notable figures from the industry such as Manoj Bajpayee, Saiyami Kher, and Sudhir Mishra came out in support.
### Progress After the Outcry
On November 15, after Kanu’s relentless fight, *Agra* managed to secure shows in 9 cinemas across Mumbai. While this is an improvement, Kanu stresses that the battle is far from over.
### Exclusive Interview with Kanu Behl
On the evening of November 14, **Bollywood Hungama** spoke exclusively to Kanu to understand the issue further.
When asked when he realized *Agra* was being denied shows, Kanu replied:
> “I was part of the conversation in peripheral ways since I am the director. I didn’t know upfront. Two weeks back, we got the initial list of about 100 screens, of which only 9 belonged to PVR and Inox — that was quite less. I insisted that we need to start cracking better cinema circuits. But the process got delayed, and we didn’t hear anything. On Thursday night, I was told that shows weren’t available as all the slots were given to bigger films. I don’t want to take names or be against any film. Eventually, we learned that we were not getting the shows. That’s when I started speaking out.”
### Distribution and Communication Challenges
*Agra* is distributed by Mantra Luminosity. When asked if Kanu had tried reaching out to theatres directly, he said:
> “I didn’t have direct communication with them. I only heard through my team. What we commonly heard was that ‘a film like Agra doesn’t fit into our programming’ and ‘there’s a bigger film out there that everyone wants to see.’ But my point is that we have 5000-6000 screens across the country. We are not asking for 1000 or even 500 screens — just 100 good screens. Why can’t we get 100 accessible screens at convenient showtimes so people can sample the film? If they like it, word of mouth will spread. So, our ask is far from exorbitant.”
### Impact of Social Media and the Monopoly of Big Chains
Kanu acknowledged that his social media posts did have some impact:
> “Yes, after my tweets, *Agra* got 9 shows on Saturday in Mumbai. Without that, the number might have gone down further. But if you notice, the film still has no shows in big multiplex chains. We are trying to add as many shows as possible. The monopoly of big chains is a real concern. This is not just my problem or my film’s problem, but that of the entire independent filmmaking community.”
### Continuing the Fight for Independent Films
Kanu vowed to continue fighting for fair screening opportunities:
> “We will keep fighting. It’s time to talk and start this conversation because this keeps happening. If you remember, even *All We Imagine As Light* suffered similarly. The same happened with *Homebound*, maybe to a lesser extent since Dharma Productions was involved. Every indie film — whether *Sabar Bonda*, *Jugnuma*, or others — faces this. Until now, everyone was talking individually. Now, independent filmmakers are coming together and raising their voices collectively.”
### On OTT Releases and Industry Challenges
When some netizens suggested releasing *Agra* directly on OTT platforms, Kanu responded that a ‘mafia’ exists there as well.
Regarding whether OTT rights for *Agra* have been sold, Kanu said:
> “No, the rights have not been sold. But why should theatres be denied first? Why should my film go directly into the black hole called OTT, where films of this sort get dumped without any promotion? Do people even know these films exist? Has the decay of our culture gotten so bad, and has the rot set so deep that no one cares anymore? Is it all about Rs. 100 crores, Rs. 1000 crores, or Rs. 5000 crores? When we are on our deathbed, will we remember how much money we earned or the quality of lives we lived and the people we mattered to? When will this shameless capitalist, consumerist activity stop? When will we put an end to it?”
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**Also Read:** [Kanu Behl urges audience to speak up as *Agra* struggles for shows amid ‘big blockbuster’ dominance](#)
**More Pages:**
– *Agra* Box Office Collection
– Bollywood News Live Updates
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